Fire-escape.



No. 648,246. Patented A r, 24, i900.

G. DUFCIUR.

FIRE ESCAPE.

' (Apglication filed n. 11, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shaet I.

WITNESSES. IN v/v TOR No. 648,246. Patented Apr. 24, 1900-. mpumun.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(Application filed Dec. 11, 1399. (No Model.) 4 2 Sheets-Slant 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Fries,

OORINNE DUFOUR, OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,246, dated April 24, 1900. Application filed December 11,1899. Serialllo. 739,954.. (No model.)

To crZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, CORINNE DUFOUR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Savannah, in the county of Ohatham and State of Georgia, have invented a new and Improved Fire-Escape, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved fire-escape arranged to form a permanent fixture of a building and be at all times ready for use, to enable persons to quickly descend to the ground, and to allow a large number of persons to successively make use of the device and reach the ground in safety, the device being simple and durable in construction, very effective, and automatic in operation, so that after the device is used by a person it immediately returns to its former position to be utilized by another person.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improvement as applied and with parts shown in section. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same with parts in a different position.

In front of the windows A A of a building are arranged balconies B B, respectively, all alike in construction and arranged to form an ornament for the window as well as a cage for persons to use to escape from the building in case of a fire, as hereinafter more fully explained. At the sides of each of the balconies B B are formed lugs C, engaging guideways D in the form of rods secured to the outside of the building, so as to reach from one window to the next window below, as is plainly indicated in the drawings, the guideways D being slightly inclined outwardly and downwardly, as is plainly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, so that when a balcony slides downward on the gnideways it also moves slightly outward away from the face of the building at the time it reaches a lowermost position in front of the next window below on the top of the balcony of the next window, so that the two balconies then appear in step form, as is plainly indicated in Fig. 3, to allow a person to readily step from the descended balcony upon the next balcony below. The sidesof each balcony are also formed with extensions E, connected with endless ropes or chains F,

passing over pulleys G G, preferably journaled in abox or casing H, secured to or form= ing part of the wall of the building, the boxes being preferably ornamented and having slots at the inner sides of said boxes for the extensions E to travel in. Each of the ropes F is provided on the run opposite to that connected with the extensions E with a weight F, and this weight F is in a lowermost position at the time a balcony is in its uppermost nor-' mal position in front of its window, as is plainly shown in Fig. 1. The weights F are sufficiently heavy,so that when a person steps, say, on the balcony B then the weights F are overbalanced, and consequently the balcony B is free to slide down on its guideways D, and in doing so imparts a traveling motion to the ropes F, so that the weights F ascend in the boxes 11. As soon as the balcony has reached its lowermost position and the person steps out of it upon the next balcony B below then the balcony B immediately ascends to its former position, owing to the weights F, which now overbalance the weight of the empty balcony, and consequently move downward by their own gravity in the boxes H until they reach their normal lowermost position at the time the balcony B has returned to its position at the window A. The person after stepping out of the balcony B when the latter is in a lowermost position into the balcony B now descends with the latter to the next window below in the same manner as above described in reference to the balcony B, and this operation is repeated from one balcony to the next lowermost one until the person finally reaches the ground.

The side posts at the entrance end of a balcony B are preferably formed with vertically.- disposed guideways B for receiving fire-proof shield I, made of asbestos or the like, and

which is free to slide in said guideways, but normally rests at the bottom of the balcony to allow a ready entrance to the balcony. \Vhen the balcony is occupied, the person can pull the shield up on the guideways, and thereby be protected from any flames that may issue from any window during the descent of the balcony. When the balcony reaches a lowermost position, the person in the balcony then moves the shield farther up, so as to allow the person to pass out of the balcony under the shield to reach the next balcony below.

' In order to check the downward movement of a balcony and to positively move a balcony up to its normal position with the person on the balcony, the following device is provided: At one side of the balcony is journaled a drum J, having a suitable crankhandle adapted to be taken hold of by the occupant of the balcony to unwind or wind up a rope K, which extends from the drum upward and over a pulley L, arranged alongside the window to which the balcony belongs. The end of the rope K after passing over the pulley L is attached to the balcony, prefer ably at the bottom thereof. Now when aperson has stepped upon the balcony and taken hold of the crank-handle of the drum J then the balcony is held from downward movement until the person turns the crank-arm and unwinds the rope K from the drum J. By these means the descent of the balcony can be regulated, and after the balcony reaches a lowermost position it can be drawn up by turning the crank-handle of the drum in an opposite direction to wind up the rope,

and thus draw the balcony up on its guideiways D.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A fire-escape, comprising a plurality of balconies, independent guideways on the building and on which the balconies slide one independently of another, the said guides being inclined downward and outward, and a counterbalancing device for each balcony.

2. A fire-escape, comprising a plurality of balconies arranged one above the other on the face of a building, guideways for each of said balconies, the guideways for each balcony extending downwardly and outwardly, so that the uppermost balcony on sliding downward on its guideway alights on the next balcony below in step form, substantially as shown and described.

3. A fire-escape, comprising a plurality of balconies arranged one above the other on the face of a building, guideways for each of said balconies, the guideways for each balcony extending downwardly and outwardly,

so that the uppermost balcony on sliding downward on its gnideway alights on the next balcony below in step form, and counterbalancing devices for each of the balconies, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GORINNE DUFOUR. \Vitnesses:

THEo. G; Hosrnn, EVERARD BOLTON lVIARSHALL. 

